Ponca City authorities investigating double murder

PONCA CITY, Okla. (AP) -- Authorities were looking for clues to a double murder Thursday after an elderly couple was found dead in their home, said a police spokeswoman. <br><br>A neighbor who lives

Friday, July 7th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

PONCA CITY, Okla. (AP) -- Authorities were looking for clues to a double murder Thursday after an elderly couple was found dead in their home, said a police spokeswoman.

A neighbor who lives across the street from the couple reported finding the bodies of Warren Littlecook, 73, and Julia Bear around 11:15 Thursday morning, said Ponca City police spokeswoman Sherry Bowers.

Angie Shafer, a neighbor, told reporters she saw a relative run from the house screaming, and went over to investigate. "He ran out and said `They're dead! They're dead!"' Shafer said. "I thought maybe they were just sick or something. It was really a gruesome thing."

Bowers said several officers responded to the scene and began searching the neighborhood around the residence. Also responding to the scene were the Kay County Sheriff's office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and White Eagle police, a tribal law enforcement agency.

It was unknown whether anything in the house was stolen, Bowers said. Police were not speculating on the type of weapon used in the stabbings, she said. Police would not comment on when the slayings might have occurred.

Neighbors considered the area a safe place to live, neighbor Bess Brown said. "We've never had any problems," Brown said. "That was why it was so surprising to us that it happened."